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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you value higher overall sound quality and can manage without wireless functionality, the AKG K361 will offer you a superior listening experience, particularly because of its better sound isolation which is useful in noisy environments. However, it lacks a built-in microphone, unlike the Sony WH-CH520, which means it may not be ideal for calls. The Sonys, on the other hand, are wireless, provide a longer battery life, and include a microphone, making them more convenient for on-the-go use and communication, even though they might not isolate sound as well as the AKGs. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the AKG K361
The AKG K361 has no clear advantages over the Sony WH-CH520.
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
Very good for gaming
Very good for TV and video
Very good for air travel
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Gaming
6.3/10
8.8/10
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the AKG K361 is only fair.
Phone Calls
3.2/10
6.7/10
The Sony WH-CH520 is only fair for phone calls, while the AKG K361 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0/10
8.0/10
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the AKG K361 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.0/10
4.6/10
The AKG K361 is only fair for noise reduction, while the Sony WH-CH520 is poor.
Battery
N/A
52.0 Hours
The AKG K361 does not have a battery. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$100
$40
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The AKG K361 has a price of $100 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The AKG K361 has very good build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
"The K361 retains much of what makes the K371 such a winner, though it has a leaner sound, and the build changes made to trim the price down are immediately apparent. Still, it’s another excellent offering from AKG, and other companies in this fight should either be very worried or quickly designing updates to their old models."
"If you’re looking for headphones that simply do what you ask them to: the Sony WH-CH520 is a decent option, even if it isn’t very exciting. Sony’s WH-CHXXX line fits this role quite well, and the WH-CH520 offers a decent raft of quality-of-life updates over its predecessor that should keep listeners happy. If the Sony WH-CH520 were a car, it’d be the boring-but-safe commuter compact."
Get a great deal on the AKG K361 or the Sony WH-CH520
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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